The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kelvin Hopkins on 2016-07-07.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what proportion of non-planned Govia Thameslink Railway services were cancelled in each reporting period since July 2015.
Claire Perry
There have not been, and there are, no ‘non-planned’ services.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kelvin Hopkins on 2016-07-07.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether external consultants were involved in the design of the (a) Remedial Plan or (b) emergency timetable for Govia Thameslink Railway services.
Claire Perry
The Department did not design either the Remedial Plan, or the revised timetable being introduced on 11 July. Emergency timetables are introduced by the rail industry in reaction to specific circumstances as they are responsible for operating the railway and do not need the prior approval of the Secretary of State.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kelvin Hopkins on 2016-07-07.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department is required to consult (a) passenger groups, (b) trade unions and (c) Network Rail before the introduction of an emergency timetable on Govia Thameslink Railway services can take place.
Claire Perry
Emergency timetables are introduced by the rail industry in reaction to specific circumstances as they are responsible for operating the railway and do not need the prior approval of the Secretary of State. GTR has introduced a revised timetable which seeks to use the resources that are likely to be available in order to provide a service that passengers can rely on. It is for the operator, in conjunction with Network Rail, to manage the timetable effectively.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kelvin Hopkins on 2016-07-07.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he plans to announce the award of the next franchise for passenger services on the Greater Anglia line.
Claire Perry
The successful bidder for the East Anglia franchise will help us realise our ambitious plans for East Anglia’s rail network. We have been clear that as a minimum they must provide a modern service with state of the art trains, and also introduce at least two 90-minute services each way between London and Norwich. In addition they must invest heavily in improving stations.
We continue to consider the bids and will announce the new operator in due course.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Robert Flello on 2016-07-07.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many Highways England vehicles there are available for motorway patrol; how many such vehicles are deployed at any one time; and how many such vehicles deployed carry defibrillators.
Andrew Jones
Highways England’s traffic officer service has 198 vehicles. On a typical weekday, there are approximately 90 vehicles deployed during the day shifts and around 49 for night times. Where there are major events or severe weather warnings, with likely impacts on the strategic road network, additional vehicles will be used.
None of the vehicles carry defibrillators.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Judith Cummins on 2016-07-07.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the potential economic benefits to Bradford and the wider regional economy of electrifying the Calder Valley line.
Andrew Jones
Later this year the rail industry will present its initial advice to Government on investment needs for the national network, drawing on the outputs of Network Rail’s long term planning process, including its refresh of the national electrification strategy. Taking account of this advice and other inputs – including from Transport for the North – the Government intends to articulate its emerging priorities for improvement to the national network during 2017.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim McMahon on 2016-07-07.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much was generated from vehicle excise duty receipts in Greater Manchester in the last year for which information is available.
Andrew Jones
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency does not hold information on the amount of vehicle excise duty revenue collected by geographical region. The total vehicle excise duty revenue collected in financial year 2014-15 was around £6 billion.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alan Brown on 2016-07-07.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his Oral Answer of 30 June 2016 to Question 905567, HC Deb, column 463, what discussions he has had with the Secretaries of State for Work and Pensions and Business, Innovation and Skills on the provision of grants for HGV training; and if he will make a statement.
Andrew Jones
My Rt Hon Friend the Secretary of State has met with the Secretaries of State for Work and Pensions and for Business, Innovation and Skills regarding HGV driver training and officials at the Departments for Transport, Work and Pensions and Business Innovation and Skills continue to work together to help the freight industry address the driver shortage.
The supply of new drivers has been increasing with about 10,000 more HGV driving test passes in 2015/16 compared to two years before.
The industry has recently launched its Trailblazer Apprenticeship which will be funded through the apprenticeship levy. The Government is working to provide support for groups of people who need it most – for example jobseekers, people facing redundancy and specialist career transitions such as those leaving Military service.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lilian Greenwood on 2016-07-07.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 25 February 2016 to Question 27762, on roads: suicide, how many suicides or attempted suicides have been recorded on the Strategic Road Network in 2016 up to the most recent period for which figures are available.
Andrew Jones
Highways England’s systems are used to record incidents that occur on the Strategic Road Network.
Between 1 January 2016 and 30 June 2016, the number of incidents defined as either suicide or attempted suicide was 568.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lilian Greenwood on 2016-07-07.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of the UK leaving the EU on his Department’s plans for electrification of the Midland Main Line.
Claire Perry
The Midland Main Line programme will deliver electrification of the Midland Main Line from Bedford to Kettering and Corby by 2019 and from Kettering to Nottingham and Sheffield via Derby by 2023. Following the vote taken by the British people for the UK to leave the European Union on 23 June their will must be respected and delivered. The Prime Minister has been clear that the negotiation for Britain’s future relationship with Europe will need to begin under a new Prime Minister. In the meantime, the Department continues working to deliver the Government agenda, including the above electrification programme.